One of our aims when planting the orchard was to remember those who served in two world wars and in more recent conflicts. As usual a small group of us laid a wreath at the base of one of the trees at 11.00a.m. on 11th November last year. We were yet again joined by Falklands veteran Tom Navin and his wife Victoria. Tom laid crosses in memory of his fallen comrades as he does every year and we hope to see him again next month.
Thanks to our policy of only mowing the ‘grass’ annually in the autumn the number and variety of wild flowers in the orchard is increasing. We are extremely grateful to the Weaverham Trust who have awarded us £300 to pay for this year’s cut.
I would like to thank Fiona who has identified all the flowers and has supplied photographs and brief information about them for our notice board.
Although we occasionally remember a few of those who survived war we continue to remember those who made the ultimate sacrifice on the right hand side of the notice board. This coming Saturday we will have a chance to remember all those whose names appear on Weaverham and Hartford village memorials and some with a connection to Weaverham but are not named on any village memorial. Together with Weaverham History Society we will be hosting the Cheshire Villages Great War Society Exhibition. In addition to the CVGWS exhibitors local schools will be displaying the work of their pupils covering both world wars. Details of the lives of local men who made the ultimate sacrifice in both world wars will be on display for us to read and copies of Harry Carlisle’s directories of the fallen of Weaverham and Hartford will be on sale..
Yet again we had a good crop of apples this year. This is a community orchard and everyone is entitled to eat them but it does seem a pity that they are picked by unknown persons before they are ripe thus preventing others from enjoying a nice crisp sweet apple.
We continue to contribute to the Weaverham News and the Hartford News. Our Facebook page has a large number of followers and our website attracts a lot of attention.
Our sturdy band of volunteers continue to work hard at the orchard pruning trees, weeding around them, replacing stakes, mulching, cutting the grass on the pathways, oiling and maintaining the benches and notice board and many other jobs. I am therefore not only grateful to our committee for the time spent at the orchard but also to Geoff Hornby and Rob Lloyd who turn up regularly to do whatever jobs are necessary. It is therefore with a heavy heart that I have to report more vandalism. A bee hotel and nine trees were recently broken including two Cheshire prunes otherwise known as Cheshire Damsons. Although a common variety in Cheshire it seems to be impossible to replace them since Morreys Nursery closed. A few days later the notice board was severely damaged having only recently been repaired. Although we will be claiming for the damage on our insurance policy we do have to pay the first £100 for each of the two incidents. The police have been informed.
Despite the mindless vandalism the Memorial Orchard is appreciated by most local residents. For some it provides a place for quiet contemplation as they remember fallen comrades or past generations of family members who made the ultimate sacrifice. For others it provides a peaceful place to sit and recuperate or to have a picnic. For many it is a place to walk the dog. For most it is also a place to enjoy nature and relax.
I would once again like to thank our action group members, for all their hard work during the past year. I am of course referring to our secretary, Mike Hornby and our treasurer Brian Williams who also plan all the work done at the orchard, Jacquie Williams who shows us how to prune the trees correctly, Fiona Casson for her knowledge of wild flowers and is responsible for our Facebook page, Peter Sayers who as well as attending work sessions also mows the paths, Steve Doughton who maintains the website and John Freeman who represents the parish council and gives us good advice.
Lastly I would like to thankd those of you who have attended the meeting this evening for your continued support.
Tina Johnson 15th October 2024